Worthing

Worthing's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in health, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 100,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Worthing increased by 7.3%, from almost 97,600 to 105,000.

The addition of just under 7,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Worthing was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Worthing

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Worthing increased by one year, from 41 to 42 years.

This urban area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,700 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 15% of people in Worthing are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Worthing by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Worthing residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.3% to 5.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of Worthing residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Worthing decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Worthing, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Worthing

The number of people in Worthing that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 17,000 in 2001 to about 32,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Worthing that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 70,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 8,500 to just over 8,700. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 8.7% to 8.4%.

Just over 1,300 people (0.8%) said they were Muslim, up from about 730 in 2001 (1.3%).

The population without a religion in Worthing increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Worthing by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Worthing

The percentage of Worthing residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.0%, while the percentage of Worthing residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Worthing, but at a slower rate than in Eastbourne (one of the most statistically similar areas to Worthing based on ONS area classifications).

In Worthing, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 19% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Eastbourne increased from 14% to 23%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Worthing remained close to 10.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 77% to 69%.

Private renting in Worthing increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Worthing, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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